Written Directions

From Interstate 40, near the town of Ozark (between Little Rock and Fort Smith), you will want to take exit 35 north on to Hwy 23 and into (and through) the town of White Oak, AR (Franklin County). Start this motorcycle road where Hwy 23 and Route 352 intersect. From here continue heading north on Hwy 23 and the fun starts when you cross into the Ozark National Forest ... here is where the Pig Trail starts and continues all the way up to where Hwy 23 and Hwy 16 meet (at Brashears Cemetery and just south of the town of St. Paul, AR).

Scenery

The rugged and forested Boston Mountains region of the Ozark Mountains provides the setting for this route, which often runs through a tunnel of foliage during spring, summer and fall. Spring wildflowers and brilliant autumn foliage make the route especially popular during those seasons. The route crosses the Mulberry River and the 165-mile Ozark Highlands Trail.

Additional scenery information submitted by "Bone" (Sep 06) - "Deep wooded terrain, many 15mph hairpins with short straights between them with dropoffs on one side cliffs on the other. The road runs between valleys beside streams to mountain hard curves. This has been called the Arkansas Dragon, and at the one general store midway of the run, you can buy pins and patches of this. The ride can be extended northward another 18 miles to the town of Huntsville where there are complete services, food, gas, lodging. "

Road Quality

Ark. 23 from the south boundary of the Ozark National Forest to its intersection with Ark. 16 at Brashears. Hair raising hairpin turns, switchbacks, curves, curves, hills, curves and more curves! Not for the faint of heart.

Roadside Amenities

The Pig Trail provides numerous recreational opportunities. Enjoy open fields and pastures, rugged cedar breaks and rocky bluffs or the banks of the Mulberry River. If fishing isn't your favorite activity, brave the rushing waters for a few hours of whitewater rafting or kayaking and afterward spend a night under leafy boughs while the rushing waters from the White River sooth you to sleep. Start off the next day with a hike along the Ozark Highlands Trail, and capture the widespread views beneath you with your camera. There is Turner Bend Store and campground at the "end of the trail" where you can get a patch that says "I survived the Pig Trail" and a campground, along with several lodges and cabin sites along the beginning and end of the ride.

Additional Info

By Gueston April 18, 201117 out of 18 members found this review useful.

5.0out of 5

Motorcycle Year 2010

Motorcycle Make Suzuki

Motorcycle Type Cruiser

My Fiance' and I have been going to Arkansas every year since 2006. Each year we take a 4 day stay and find different routes to ride each day. Last year in 2010 we took a ride from Hot Springs to Eureka Springs taking the Pig Trail. This was by far the best ride we ever had in our entire lives. I'm talking curves, curves and more curves! The trail is very shaded so wear a light jacke,it is was nice and cool in the mountains. All the twist and turns will give you a great workout. My fiance's shoulders were sore on the next day. He said it was the best workout he ever had. If you are ever in Arkansas you must take this route. It's a riders dream!!!!! Don't let not be on a motorcycle stop you from riding the trail; go in whatever you are driving. It's beautiful!!!!

By Brian Fistleron November 23, 20148 out of 10 members found this review useful.

4.0out of 5

Motorcycle Year 2013

Motorcycle Make Kawasaki

Motorcycle Type Sport

Rode this 9/12/2014. Was raining for the southern 1/3 of the way from Ozark (both up and back.) Road quality is very good in most sections. Stopped at Turner Bend to pick up some patches & a shirt. If you are camping, there is Aux Arc Park just south of Ozark, which is an Army Corp campground (meaning very inexpensive - like $11 w/hookups.) Half that if you have a senior or disability National Parks pass.

There are a lot of great roads in the area, but this is my favorite. On a hot day, the shaded road is nice. It has just the right amount (for me) of "curviness". The people at the store at Turner Bend are very nice. Just an all around great riding experience. We continued on up 23 to Eureka Springs for dinner, then back to our cabin in Ponca.

Great road! Did this route the first of Nov in 2008 and loved it. The leaves were changing, at peak, and it was beautiful. I like the fact that there is low traffic on such a curvy, scenic, good road. I had done the dragon the month before and really like the Arkansas roads better because they were not crowded and just as thrilling.

By skutertrashon July 4, 20126 out of 8 members found this review useful.

5.0out of 5

Motorcycle Year 2001

Motorcycle Make Harley Sportster

Motorcycle Type Cruiser

Love this road! We have a loop that takes us on the Talimena byway then we turn north on 23 to Eureka Springs. I could ride it once a year and never get tired of it! The only down side I have found of the road is getting stuck behind RV or semi traffic. Just an amazing road with curves and hills and amazing beauty. If you haven't ridden it you owe it to yourself to ride it!

I rode the Pig Trail from I 40 to Breshears on July 25, 2010. The construction is complete. Go for a ride and enjoy. The side trip on 215 to Oark is not a good idea, as it is under construction until Spring 2011.

By Gueston October 9, 20095 out of 8 members found this review useful.

5.0out of 5

Motorcycle Year 2006

Motorcycle Make Honda

Motorcycle Type Cruiser

From Breashears to Turner Bend, this is a great route. It's everything you could ask for. If you want to ride in Arkansas you have to run the Pig Trail. The remainder of Hwy 23 is good, but not exceptional. You can combine the Turner Bend to Breashears section with other routes and make a great ride. The other great rides in this area are listed on this web site. Take a week and ride them all.

By CommoDogon July 29, 20124 out of 7 members found this review useful.

5.0out of 5

Motorcycle Year 2008

Motorcycle Make Harley Davidson

Motorcycle Type Touring

Rode this in July of 08, it was my second road trip ever. My wife and I were on our way to Wisconsin. We had a great time, it is a beautiful road. the turns are great, the scenery is better. We will ride this again.

By Gueston January 14, 20104 out of 6 members found this review useful.

5.0out of 5

Motorcycle Year 2003

Motorcycle Make Honda

Motorcycle Type Cruiser

Highway 23 aka the Pig Trail is an excellent ride and I recommend it to anyone on 2 wheels. Lots of curves and scenery to keep you occupied. Turner Bend Store and campground on the Mulberry River 10 miles or so north of Ozark is a great place to stop and get a cup of coffee or just sit there and talk with other fellow riders. The part I like the most is that highway 23 is a great jumping off place for other great roads to ride. Check the map and you'll see. I ride the Pig Trail often and never get tired of it. Enjoy!

By nova73guyon July 21, 20142 out of 2 members found this review useful.

4.0out of 5

Motorcycle Year 2014

Motorcycle Make Yamaha Stratoliner

Motorcycle Type Cruiser

Yet another great ride, brought to you by Arkansas mountains. The most fun I've had on 2 wheels. Serious up and down grades, and some good switchbacks (some 10mph or less). BIG smile all the way along! If you continue on 23, be aware it does get a bit rough toward the end.

By WindexSCRCon June 11, 20132 out of 2 members found this review useful.

5.0out of 5

Motorcycle Year

Motorcycle Make

Motorcycle Type

Can't really say much the others haven't. A wonderful road and very enjoyable. Just be sure to watch out for traffic, both vehicles and cyclists, since they use the road for training sometimes. Not a terrific road for brand new riders, but certainly a good skill test if you are just starting out.

By Gueston February 8, 20132 out of 2 members found this review useful.

5.0out of 5

Motorcycle Year 2005

Motorcycle Make Honda Interceptor

Motorcycle Type Sport-Touring

I was based in Bentonville for a year, and took Route 23 from Eureka Springs to Ozark...then back up Route 71...many times. Great road, but traffic can get tedious in the summer. Turner Bend is an interesting stop for a soda and stretch!

By hijasmin12on September 11, 20171 out of 1 members found this review useful.

2.0out of 5

Motorcycle Year 2017

Motorcycle Make Kawasaki

Motorcycle Type Sport

This road is highly over rated. Probably one my least favorite roads in Arkansas. The road is in disrepair with many bumps and patched asphalt. Warning: Do Not Travel Fast on this road. The bumps could make you lose control of your bike. The curves are too tight and very little asphalt to accelerate. Terrible road. Does have a few spots where the canopy completely covers the road. Which is pretty neat and rare but the amount of traffic makes this road completely unenjoyable.

By Donald Reischmanon October 17, 20121 out of 1 members found this review useful.

5.0out of 5

Motorcycle Year '08

Motorcycle Make Honda

Motorcycle Type Touring

Pig trail is a great ride. We rode the upper half on 10-12-12 from Brashears down to 215 on the way to Oark. Great scenery, colors would have been full in about a week. But still beautiful. The road surface is good-to-excellent. Just the right mix of straights and curves, with some real tight ones mixed in. Don't miss it.

By Gueston January 16, 20101 out of 1 members found this review useful.

4.5out of 5

Motorcycle Year 2009

Motorcycle Make Buell

Motorcycle Type Sport-Touring

UNDER CONSTRUCTION!!!
Normally, I love the Pig Trail, but be warned that they started construction in fall of 2009! There are more trucks on the roads, and some areas are being removed (a bit of dirt).
Hate for someone to hate the ride because you're stuck behind a logging or dirt truck OR have problems dealing with a construction area. Recommendation: call Turner Bend convenience store for most recent details before you make the ride.

By Gueston December 18, 20081 out of 1 members found this review useful.

No Rating Provided

Motorcycle Year 2008

Motorcycle Make OTHER

Motorcycle Type Other

I have ridden the pig trail four times on my bicycle, from Fayetteville to Ozark. I always stop at "Turner Bend" where the trail crosses the Mulberry River. This is a great ride and the people I meet at TB are numerous and friendly. A great ride for bicyclists, motorcyclists, and "automobilists!"

By PileDriveron October 19, 20170 out of 0 members found this review useful.

3.0out of 5

Motorcycle Year 1993

Motorcycle Make Honda

Motorcycle Type Touring

I believe this has to be one of the most overrated rides EVER. I recently spent 5 days in the Ozarks and this was the lamest ride of the 5 days. Literally every ether road offered more than the Pig Trail. Go ride the Ozarks - It's AMAZING! But why this stretch of road is singled out as special is beyond me.

Here is a fun video from the trip.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQ6EWRUaQmw

By bob mccarthyon October 11, 20160 out of 0 members found this review useful.

3.0out of 5

Motorcycle Year 2004

Motorcycle Make Ducati

Motorcycle Type Sport

Beautiful Road from a scenic viewpoint. Road is a 5 star if your riding a cruiser or touring bike. It's a first gear road on a sport bike. The road surface circa fall 2016 is sketchy in a few places. There are far better roads fir a sport bike.

Occasionally a very slow truck will create a major very slow moving backup which is hell on a clutch.

Anyway a wonderful tight and interesting road for the cruiser/touring rider

By Iratoddon July 18, 20160 out of 0 members found this review useful.

5.0out of 5

Motorcycle Year Cross Country 2013

Motorcycle Make Victory

Motorcycle Type Touring

17 JULY 2016 *** HEADS UP FOLKS*** SOUTH END HAS A LONG SECTION THAT IS TOTALLY ABSOLUTLY OVER RUN WITH TAR SNAKES. One of the two 10mph hairpins had a 3-4 foot patch of loose gravel down in the bottom. Its a great ride, not as challenging as Pikes Peak, (the only ride I can compare it with) but a very close second in my book.

By Buck Nakedon April 14, 20150 out of 0 members found this review useful.

5.0out of 5

Motorcycle Year 2005

Motorcycle Make Honda

Motorcycle Type Cruiser

The Pig Trail is a fantastic ride. About 82 miles with a nice stopping place at each end and one in the middle. Much of the road is canopied with trees and there are a couple of scenic overlooks. Stay in Eureka Springs and every road in every direction is a great ride!

Rode the Arkansas dragon, Highway 7 scenic Byway and the pig trail all in 1 day. The Dragon was an incredibly technical ride, The Pig trail was just plain fun, fun, FUN. I flat out hauled butt the entire way (except where the switchbacks are). Im on a 1400cc sport touring monster with full bags and just loved the fast flip flop ride for 77 miles...I loved it.

By dhornickon August 17, 20110 out of 0 members found this review useful.

4.0out of 5

Motorcycle Year 2007

Motorcycle Make Harley Davidson Street Glide

Motorcycle Type Touring

We did the Pig Trail ride during the 2010 Bikes, Blues and BBQ rally in Fayetteville. Great ride, could be longer although we did the Pig Trail then across 40 and then north on old 71 back into Fayetteville. Really nice ride all together. Definitely one not to miss.

Great Place for a road trip. From Dallas we took of to Hot Springs, stayed over night and the next day we did the Pig Trial ride. Beautiful scenery, lots of curves and hardly any traffic. Highly recommend it.

Great ride! It is nice and cool among all the trees with lots of switchback, inclines, and declines to keep you awake. If you get a chance, stop in farther north in Ozone at the Ozone Burger Barn for a bite to eat. Ozone has about 4 houses and this place is completely bizarre, but in a fun way.

How beautiful this ride is! Don't miss it. It was a blistering summer day, and this route gave us shade and scenery much needed compared to the alternatives! Watch out as you do get shots to hog ball, but then need to drop her down for hairpins. Fun! Not if tired or over nourished!